nelsost



J. NELSON..

APPARATUS Foa THE CRACKING 0F HYnHocARBoN olLs AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILVED MAR. 2,1918.

Patentedl Apr. 11, 1922.

d lJill/ll UNITED srarss' PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN NELSON, 0F GLASGOW, SCOTLAND.

' APPARATUS FOR THE CRACKXNG OF HYDROCARBON OILS .AND THE LIKE.

To all whom it Coface/mt: y

.le it known that l., Jeux NnLsoN, asubject of the King of England,residing in Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for the Cracking of Hydrocarbon Oils and thelike, of which the following isa specilication.

The present invention relates to apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oilsand the like.

ln processes heretofore employed for this purpose it has been customaryto pass the hydrocarbon"through retorts, tubular cham` bers or the likepartly iilled with Solid contact-materials such as iron, nickel, orearthenware and heated to an appropriate temperature. In operating withsolid contactsubstances, however, it has been found that dilticultiesand Virregularities of working are apt to occur, chiefly on account ofthe gradual accumulation of carbonaceous deposits in theinterstices ofV,the contact-material or at constrictedfpartsof the chamber. A further`disadvantagei has been that,

'pas a rule, it has not" been easy to maintain a uniform` temperature inthe contact-material itself and the consumption of fuel for heating` hasbeen somewhat wasteful,

The object of the present invention is to obviate these ditiiculties'andto improve the cracking process generally. u

The present invention consists in an improved apparatus for cracking oilby a process in which there is used as contact-substance a suitableliquid material, such as molten metal, instead of the solid bodieshitherto employed, the liquid being agitated, as for example by passageof the hydrocarbon vapours and gases through it.

The selection of the liquid substance to be used depends, among otherconsiderations, upon the working temperature required. In operating atmoderate temperatures (such as are employed in the production ofvolatile'spirits for use in petrol engines) I prefer to use a bath ofmolten lead Vas the con-- tact-substance, and to pass the hydrocarbon or.its vapours into the bath at a suitable distance below its surface. Thegases and vapours rushing up through the liquid metal keep it vigorouslyagitated: local/accumula- Specification of Letters 4Patent. PatentedApr'. 11, 1922. lApplication led March 2, 1.918. Serial No. 219,950.v I

tions of c arbonaceous .matter are prevented and the maintenance of auniform temperature in the .fontact-substance is facilitated.

It will be un-:lerstcod that the liquid contact-substance comes directlyinto contact with the hydrocarbon itself and is notused merely as ameans for the external heating of the contact-chamber. The crackingtakes place solely in Contact with the molten metal, or substantiallyso.

If the hydrocarbon to be cracked contains tarry matters or the likewhich cannot be wholly vapourized during the cracking process, it may bedistilled from an auxiliary vessel and the distillate or vapours be thensubjected to the cracking process.

The extent of the cracking may be varied by varying the depth at whichthe hydrocarbon or its vapours are delivered beneath the surface oftheliquid contact-substance.

s the time during which thehydrocarbon and its product remain in contactwith thefhot liquid substance is very brief, the

whole product or any desired fraction thereof may be subjected to one ormore retreatments; for example the heavier fraction, condensed out ofthe hot vapours by means of a dephlegmator in the known Y manner, may bethus retreated.

Figure l is a vertical section of a modification. Y

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section.

Figure 3 is a plan view partly broken away showing the apparatus ofFigure 1.

Figure 4 is a vertical section of a modication. Y

lFigure 5 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 4;. e f YFigure 6 is a vertical section through another modiiication, and

Figure 7 is a detail vertical view of the apparatus shown in Figure Gtaken at right angle thereto.

If temperatures exceeding those at which lead is satisfactorily employedare to be adopted, metals or alloys of higher meltingpoint than lead maybe used ascontact-substance and the apparatus may be constructed ofi'ireclay or other refractory material.

According to this invention one form of apparatus consists of a coveredhorizontal tank set in a furnace and containing the g v l 1,412,540

Y the vapours into small streams.

ings.

A preferred apparatus of this type vis shown diagrammatically insectional elevatio'n,*cross-section, and `plan respectively inFiguresfl, 2 and 3 of the accompanying draw- The covered horizontal tankF which is-of V-shaped cross-section and into which the oil is fed underpressure throughthe inlet pipes K, contains the liquid contact-substance 'for example molten lead l and is pro- 'vided with vapour-outletpipes L. The tank is-'divid'ed into aseries of compartments (of whichfour are shown inthe drawing) by transverse `partitions G having ,portsG1 at lthe upper part for the passage of the hydrocarbon vapours, andthese compartments are further divided by a series of dependingpar`titions H, the lower parts of which are curved and immersed to asuitable depth in the =molten Vlead or other liquid contact substance asshown. v4The hydro-carbon 'vapours are 'by `this y arrangement causedtol pass through the. apparatus in the directionshown by thearrows andare subjected repeatedly' to `vthe action ol the molten lead. The V-shapedcross-section ot' the `tank is specially advantageous when two ormore suwh unite are Imountedy side by side in one lurnarci-FiguresA'and` 5 show, in sectional elevation and plan respectively, amodified arrangement in which the horizontal tank (l, which ispreferably of V-shaped cross-section, is provided with a series ofvertical cylindrical chambeis A, open at their lower ends and extendingdownwards through the cover C1 nearly `to the bottom of the molten leador towhich `the cylinders A and inlet pipes B are respectivelyimmersedin the lead,v must be so adjusted ras to ensure that thehydrocarbon vapours flow in succession from cylinder to cylinder'throughthe connecting pipes ll, and pass out by the outlet .pipe A2, as in`dicated iagrammatically by the arrows` and do notescapebeneath the loweredges ot any olftl'fecylinders. A filling plug .F it'or the mol ten leadis provided in the cover of the tank. To prevent oxidation of the lead,atmospheric air may be expelled from the tank by means oiLA a reducingor indifferent gas or vapour; for example by introducing hydrocarbon oilor vapour through the inlet Figures 6 and 7 show, in sectional elevationland cross-section respectively,A a modified arrangement 1n which thecontact-substances completely fills the covered tank C, and the verticalcylinders A, which are closed at their upper 'en'dsbythe'covers A1, areconnected by means of vapour pipes A2, A3, and vprovid.- ed internallywith lvertical partitions A4 which'extend downwards lor a short distanceinto `the contact-substance. The cylinders A extend downwards nearly tothe bottom ot the contact-substance. The depths to which tllecylinders Aand partitions A* are respectively immersed, inthe lead must be sochosen and driving-V fout theiairitlirough the outlet C3.

'ioA

as to ensure that the hydrocarbon vapours f low'tliroughlthe apparatusas indicated diagrammatically by the arrows. The lower edges A5 ofthepartitions may be 'serrated as shown in Figure 7. A chamber D, formed inthe cover C1 and communicating with the interior of the tank C, providesspace for the expansion and contraction of 'the moltenV metalwhilstminimi'zing the risk ot' oxidation thereof. A plug D gives accessto the chamber 'for inspection orlilling purposes.

ltwillbe obvious that the apparatus shown in Figures `land 5 may bemodified by substituting, for the form of tank therein shown,

a tank` completely vfilled with the contact-suby stance as indicated inFigures 6 and 7.

he "apparatus mustin all cases, be free from constrictionsinterstices,or lo'nO channels of sinall cross-sectionjcapable ol being obstructed bycarbonaceous deposits, at parts where 'high temperatures are reached.

The inlet pipes are provided with feedvalves, preferably a non-returnvalve to 'prevent the escape ot vapours, and a safetyvalve or pressuregauge to guard against undue rise ot Apressure in case of accidentalstoppage. The apparatus is also preferably provided with a pyrometer,the thermocouple of which is immersed in the contactsubstance. Thedephlegmators may be interposed between the chambers to facilitate therepeated treatment ot the oil. It will be apparent that the-dimensionsof the apparatus may be varied according to the rate of working desired,and that the number of oil or vapour inlet `pipes may be increased inaccordance 4with the capacity of the apparatus.

It has `already been'proposed to employ molten metal as a heating agentin the distilla'tion of oils, oil residues, tar oils and other volatile`substances-particularly those which when 'treated by thevusualdistillation methods leave a non-volatile residue. example, it has beenproposed to force the llll izo

For I oil or other volatile substances at constant rate andYconsiderable velocity through a coiled pipe at least twenty feet longand of narrow bore (about three-sixteenths of an inch diameter), heatedexternally by means of a bath of molten lead or other metal to atemperature suliiciently high to evaporate the constituent having Vthehighest boiling point, a separating chamber, immersed in the moltenmetal, being provided at the outlet of the coiled pipe tor theseparation of any unvaporized residue. ln a proposed alternative form ofapparatus the coiled pipe opened under the molten lead and at the bottcmlthereoi' ythe oil was thus heated during its passage through the coiland in rising through the molten metal it became further heated andvaporized without fractionation. The object and eilect of this processwere to obtain continuously and uniformly either a distillate or vapourof constant composition, the volatile portion ot the oil it flowedthrough the apparatus being vaporized as a whole instead ot' beingdistilled over in trace tions of progressively increasing density, as indistillation by the usual methods.

The present invention, however, relates to the cracking of oils and notto the mere vaporization thereof and it is an essential feature that theoil or vapours shall at no time be subjected to a cracking temperaturein long or constricted pipes or other narrow channels, since theaccun'iulation of carbonaceous deposits,'which it is the object of theinvention to avoid, would inevitably occur I therein. t is of theessence of the invention that the cracking shall take place solely incontact with the mobile metal itself, or substantially so, in order thatthe constant, vigcrous movement oi the .metal will prevent mechanicallyany local accumulations of deposit. I disclaim the use ot' molten metalin either the Yfractional or non-fractional vaporization of oils.

What l claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1sl. Apparatus 'for cracking hydrocarbon cils andV the like by means of aliquidV contact substance, the apparatus comprising an externally heatedcovered tank, said tank having a series of intercommunicating contactchambers therein, and means in each chamber t'or conducting thehydrocarbon below the level et the liquid contact substance betere itspass ge to the succeeding chamber, substantially as described.

Q, apparatus tor crackingThydrocarbon oils and the like by means of aliquid contact substance, the apparatus comprising a horizontalexternally heated covered tank, said tank having a series ofintereommunieating contact chambers therein, and means in each chamberJfor conducting the hydrocarbon' below the level ot the liquid contactsubstance bejlfoi'e its passage to the succeeding chamber, all theseelements being so disposed that the apparatus is tree from constrictedchannels at points exposed to a cracking temperature, substantially asdescribed.

ipparatus tor cracking hydrocarbon oils and the like by means or aliquid contact su stance, the apparatus comprising in combination ahorizontally externally heatccvered tank ot if-shaped cross sectionalong an axis at right angles to its length, said tank haring a seriesot intercommunicating contact chambers therein, and means in eachchamber for conducting the hydrocarbon below the level of the liquidContact substance betere its passage to the succeeding chamber, allthese elements being so disposed that the apparatus is free fromcenstricted channels at points exposed to a cracking temperature,substantially as described.

a. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils and the like by means ot' aliquid con` tact substance, the apparatus comprising an externallyheated covered tank, said tank having series of intercommunicatingcontact chambers therein, and a depending partition in each chamberterminating below the level of the liquid contact substance forconducting the hydrocarbon below the level of said substance before itspassage to the succeeding chamber, substantially as described. Apparatusror cracking hydrocarbon f and the like by means ot a liquid contact i"bstance, the apparatus comprising an exv' heated covered tank, said tankhavries intercommunicating contact aci-.s therein, and a dependingpartition h chamber terminating below the level ot the liquid contactsubstance tor conduct ing the hydrocarbon below the level of saidsubstance before its passage to the succeedinc chamber, all theseelements being so disposed that the apparatus is tree from constrictcdchannels at points exposed to a cracking temperature, substantially asdescribed.

Apparatus tor cracking hydrocarbon oils and the like by means ot aliquid contact :--fubstance, the apparatus comprising in con .iination ahorizontal externally heated covered tank, an expansion chamber for thecontact substance in said tank, said tank having a series olinter-communicating conchambers therein, and means in each tact chamberfor conducting the hydrocarbon below the level orf the liquid contactsubstance before its passage to the succeeding chamber, substantially asdescribed.

7. Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils and the like by means or aliquid contact substance, the apparatus comprising in combination ahorizontal externally heated covered tank, an expansion chamber for thecontact substance in said tank, said tank ha a series ol?intercomniunicating conirhanibers therein, and ineans in each chambertor conducting,v the hydrocarbon below theI level of the liquid rContactsubstance before its pas; ge to the succeeding chamber7 allthese'eleinents being so disposed that the apparatus is vtree 'Troineonstricted rchannels at points 'exposed to a cracking temperature,substa ntiall y as described.

Apparatus for cracking hydrocarbon oils and the like by means oi aliquid conubstance, the apparatus comprising in co, nation a horizontalexternally heated entered tank, said tank lie-ving a Series ofinterconinninieating contactchainbers in the torni of inverted pots7 andmeans in each chamber i'or conducting the hydrocarbon below the level otthe liquid contact substance beore its passageitothe 'succeedingchanbei',` substantially asde'scribed. f

9. ;'Xpparatas for cracking hydrocarbon oils 'and the like by means of aliquid contact substance, thel apparatus corn rising in con'ibinational'iorizontal externa ly heated covered tank, said tank having a seriesof intereoinnlimitating contactv chambers in the torniof invertedpots,`an`d means in each chaniber for Conducting the hydrocarbonbelowthe level ol the liquid contact substance before its passage tothesucceeding chaniV bei'7 all these elementsbeing so disposed that theapparatus isfree 'from constricted channels at points ep'osed'to acracking temperature, substantially as described.

ln testimony Wl'iereoil I my signature.

J NO. 1N ELSON.

